Bank Rakyat said a third-party technical issue caused the disruption to its corporate website, and assured customers that their funds and data remain secure, Malay Mail reported on Saturday (November 7).
Government statement
Communications Minister and Madani government spokesperson Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said the country's online banking system and financial transactions remain secure despite attempted cyberattacks by non-state actors, including a recent hacking incident involving Bank Rakyat's website. A Cinca News headline said Fahmi stated that the hacking did not involve data theft.
Different descriptions
The bank describes the outage as a third-party glitch, while the minister refers to a hacking incident, so the reports use different language for the same disruption. The excerpts reviewed do not explain how the two descriptions fit together or what the investigation has found, so readers should look for further statements from the bank and Bank Negara Malaysia.
Regulatory backdrop
On November 6, Malay Mail reported that Bank Negara Malaysia is tightening cybersecurity safeguards for financial institutions amid rising global threats, and that its Risk Management in Technology policy requires annual cyber drills.
Tips for customers
Customers should use official apps and websites, avoid clicking links in unexpected messages and report suspicious activity to their bank immediately.
Sources: Malay Mail - Bank Rakyat blames third-party glitch for website outage | Malay Mail - Fahmi says online banking remains safe | Malay Mail - BNM tightens cybersecurity safeguards
